Wakamatsu tired of umpires’ "witch hunt" of Milton Bradley

If there was any question in Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu’s mind that Milton Bradley is a marked ballplayer in the eyes of some umpires, he got an answer tonight.

For the second straight game, Bradley was ejected by the home plate umpire after a called third strike. This one came in tonight’s 6-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, two days after Bradley was booted from Wednesday night’s game against the Texas Rangers.

Both ejections, Wakamatsu said, were basically hair-trigger moves by umpires. The manager didn’t hide his disgust when he talked with reporters after tonight’s game.

“To me it’s almost like a witch hunt,” Wakamatsu said. “It’s almost embarrassing to me that egos get in the way to a point that they don’t even give a guy a chance anymore. I’m not real thrilled about that whole situation.”

Plate umpire Jon Merry ejected Bradley in the fourth inning tonight after a pitch that many observers thought was high. Whether it was a strike or not, that’s not the point..

None of the reporters who cover the Mariners saw the ejection because we were in the clubhouse talking with starting pitcher Doug Fister, who’d undergone his own drama when a line drive hit him on his right forearm and knocked him from the game (it appears to be a bruise, but he’ll be X-rayed today). An Associated Press story said Bradley tossed his bat after he was called out.

Wakamatsu said Bradley did say something after Merry rang him up, unlike Wednesday when he dropped his bat and started to take off his gloves after ump Dan Bellino called strike three. Wakamatsu said Bradley mistakenly thought it was the third out, and that he did nothing to show up the umpire in that one.

Tonight?

“He was just about in the dugout (when he said something), but I’m standing in the dugout and I couldn’t tell wha.t he said,” Wakamatsu said. “It’s pretty blatant that some guys have it out for him.”

What’s interesting is that the Mariners easily could have had three ejections in three days.

On Thursday, pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith became so upset about a balk call on a pickoff move to first base that he pointed to his footprint and drew a line in the dirt on the mound to show he didn’t stride across the 45-degree angle to the plate. First-base umpire Bob Davidson, who called the balk, did nothing and Rowland-Smith pitched on.

In Wakamatsu’s mind, Bellino and Merry should have done the same thing with Bradley.

I shudder to think what may happen today when these “bad boy” Mariners face the Diamondbacks in a rematch of the Cliff Lee/Chris Snyder Affair from Monday. Benches emptied after Lee threw a pitch that sailed near Snyder’s head, prompting the Diamondbacks catcher to move toward the mound and benches to empty.

No punches were thrown and the game ended without further incident, although D-backs third baseman Mark Reynolds called Lee’s actions “bush league.”

You’d think nothing more would happen between the two teams, although all it might take is a fastball that gets away from Felix Hernandez or Dan Haren, the starting pitchers, to create a spark.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Vancouver Giants goalie Burke Hood makes a play for the puck against the Everett Silvertips, who lost 6-2 to the Giants at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, one day after clinching a WHL playoff spot. (Rob Wilton, Giants/Special to Black Press Media).
Tips Week in Review: Everett first in WHL to clinch playoff berth

The Silvertips defeated Kamloops on Friday to secure spot, but lost to Vancouver on Saturday

The Edmonds-Woodway bench reacts to a foul call during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 10

Warriors win battle of division champs.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Perfect week no help to Gonzaga

An unbeaten week against a pair of middle- to lower-tier West Coast… Continue reading

LeBron James (23) and Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers look on as John Collins (20) of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Lakers’ LeBron James and Luka Doncic hit the ground running

LeBron James and Luka Doncic represent different generations and… Continue reading

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) smiles as head coach Nick Sirianni holds up the Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Eagles overwhelm Chiefs to win the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps did not vanquish the Kansas… Continue reading

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.